Fluid lift for wells



Feb. 3, 1931. c. H. BERGQulsT 1,790,895

'FLUIDLIFT FOR WELLS Filed Feb. 9A, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (luci mq Febf3, 1931. c. HL BERGQUlsT i 1,790,895

FLUID LIFT' vFOR wELLs mamans. '3, mi'

uNirt-:o sTA'i-Es 'PATENT-,OFICB 1 ennuis n. nmoeuisr, oir onor-.aim oxnmomajn'ssienon or omi-mr- To maaar A. Locxn, oir oimumm oxminoma non mr ron. WELLS ,i A application mea February 9,1929. sei-iai No. asasju.

This inventionrelates-.to `fluid lifts especially adapted for use in the recovery of oil. The invention forming the subject ofthis application contemplates a Huid lift in which the iowof liuid through a pressure fluid motor located at the bottom of the well is utilized to bring about Athe operation of a plunger pump and at the same timeto enter into direct lifting contactiwith the column of fluid above to aid inthe recovery of the same,

the arrangement being -such that the supply ciated therewith, may be installed and re moved with a minimum of effort and loss of\ time. Another object of the invention is to pro- `vide a fluid lift in,which the advanta es of a plunger pump are retained without t e inclusion of the usual sucker rods known to be so troublesome, especially in deep Wells and which, by reason 'of the elasticity lthereof reduce materially the efliciency of the conventional pump.

Another andequall im ortant aim of the invention is to provi e a uid lift in which the strokes of the piston are arrested yieldingly to avoid pounding and rapid'wear.

Other objects amdadvantages will be apparent during the course of the following description. Y.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part'of this application and in which like numerals are employ'` to Adesignate like 40 parts throughoutfthe same, 1

'Figure 1 is a 4fragmentary sectionalview through the improved fluid` lift in-initial position, v

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view through il* a pressure fluid motor and associated elements embodied in the invention, the piston of the motor being shown at the limit of the up stroke thereof,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view through the pressure4 fluid motor andassociated elea shoe 6 set above the seal. Thel weight of the inner tubing 8 is ments, the view illustrating .the position'. assumed b the piston carried valveion the downA stro e, (-A Figure 4 -is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3, I Figure 5 is a group perspective illustratinga piston and a valvemechanism'carried thereby. i

In' the drawings wherein for the urpose of illustration is shown a, preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 desig- `nates a casing located within a well and having the lower portion thereof provided with producing stratum in the usual manner. v

A conduit or tubing 7'is located within the casing 5 aiidreeives an inner tubing or conduit 8, the members 7 and 8 being-spaced to' ,cooperate `in the formation of an annular passage 3,' by which a pressure fluid, .such as 70 'compressed airor as, may be brou ht into use as willbe dcscri ed. 0f course, t e mem'- s bers 7 )and 8 extendfroni the surface as does the casing 5 andthe tubing 7 has connection with av source of pressure fluid, while the tubing 8 is connected to ai'iow tank.

As -shown in Figure 1, the tubing?v has I connection with a coupling`9 into which the upper portion of a reduced sectionlO of the tubing 7 is threaded. The lower portion of 8C the section 10 may be bottomed in the well and is provided with suitable means, such as perforations', by which oil I may enter the J same.` A l The upper terminal portion of the section 10 'is shown to be internally bevelled to form a seat for an annular bushing 1l joined with the lower portion of the inner tubing 8 and providing 'a means by which the working parts below are suspended from the inner tubing -The opposed contacting surfaces of the bushing l1 and the upper terminal of the section 10 are oppositely bevelled and are fit closely 4to provide a substantially fluid tight ample to hold the bushing 11 seated and when it isdesired to remove the working parts of the mechanism, it is asimple matter to withdraw the inner tubing together with the bushing 11 and the parts suspended therefrom. '100 i The upper portion 12 of a cylinder 14 is shown to have direct connection with the bushing 11 so that the liquid that enters throu the perforations therein may enter the tu ing and be conducted to the surface as will be described.

The reduced section 10 receives and is spaced outward from the cylinder 14 and a working barrel 16 to cooperate with these parts in the formation of an annular chamber 18 for the passage of liquid from the working barrel to the perforated ortion 12.

duced section 10 and provide a closure for the bottom of the annular chamber 18.

The coupling 20 is provided with a seat for a foot valve 26 of conventional or other design. Obviously, the ball of the foot valve 26 provides a means by which liquid may enter the pumping chamber of the barrel 16 during the ascent of the plunger 28 and by which the return to the well of the previously admitted liquid is prevented. v

The'plun er 28 may also be more or less conventiona in design and is provided with the usual ball by which the flow of liquid therethrough is controlled. During the up stroke of the` lunger 28, the liquid previously admitted to t e upper portion of the working barrel by way of the valve in the plunger 28 is discharged through the perforations 30 and is directed into the annular passage 18 for ascent into the tubing by way of the perforated portion 12.

It maybe observed that the working barrel 16 is suspended from the cylinder 14 and is rigidly connected thereto through the medium of a bushing 32, the latter having a central opening for the passage of the plunger stem or rod. 34. A packingmnit 134 is carried by the bushing 32 and establishes a'fiuid tight contact between the plunger rod 34 and the bushing 32.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 the rod 34 is provided at a point between the ends thereof with a piston 36 operating' within the cylinder and adapted to be elevated from belowby pressure fluid, such pressure fluid being admitted to the cylinder by way of pipes 38 welded for the full length thereof to the outer side of the cylinder and extended through the bushing 11. The upper portions of the pipes 38 are extended through the bushing 11 and are in constant communi! cation with the annular passage 3. Thus, compressed air or s may be directed down through the annu ar passage 3 and introduced into the lower portion of the c linder 14 by way of the pipes 38, of whic therey may be any number desired. The inlet ends of the pipes 38 are extended above the point of settlementof scale and other ymatter in the chamber 3.

Figure 5 illustrates that the piston 36 is provided with an annular series of longitudinal ports 45 ada table for the passage of a pressure fluid an being controlled by a valve plate 46. The valve plate 46 is located immef diately below the piston 36 and has rigid connection with a pair of stems 48, the stems being slidable through the piston 3,6 and extended beyond the same.

The valve plate 46 operates between the piston 36 and a shoulder member 50, the shoulder member being secured rigidly on the rod 34 and being provided with axial openings receiving the stems 48.

The initial position of the piston 36 and v the associated valve 46 is shown in Fi ure. 1 wherein it is illustrated that the pac ring unit 134 is in the path of travel of and is adaptable for engagement by the lower terminals of the stems 48 so that as the piston approaches the limit of descent, the valve plate is moved to closed position to cut oli' the flow of pressure Huid through the ports 45. The closing of the ports '45 at the completion of the down stroke, allows the pressure fluid introduced into the lower portion of the .cylinder 14 to have effective lifting engagement with the'piston 36.

During the major portion of the up stroke ofthe piston 36, the pressure fluid will hold the valve plate 46 in closed position. However, as the completion of the up stroke is approached as suggested in Figure 2, the projecting upper terminals of the stem 48, will comeinto contact with the fixed abutment 60 with the result that the ports 45 are opened and the free movement of pressure Huid therethrough allowed.

Of course,`the upward movement of the piston 36 is accompanied by a similar movement of the plunger 28 with the result thaty during such upward movement, liquid is discharged from the working barrel 16 and is directed by way of the by-pass 18 and the of fluid under pressure through the piston 36 is allowed so thatthe piston may descend and carry with it the plunger 28. Duri-ng such descent ef the piston 36, the valve plate 46 will remam in open position to allow of the more or less free movement of pressure iluld into the tubing to aid in the action of the plunger 28. That is'to say, the'introduc- Otherwise expressed,

tion of the compressed air or gas into the tubing during the down stroke of the plunger 28, compensates for the temporary loss of lifting action on the part of the plunger and maintains a constant upwardmovement of the tubing fluid. e v

It is important to observe that there 1s a generous clearance between the piston 36 and the wall of the cylinder 14 so that the constant and uninterrupted flow of fluid under pressure through the pump and into the tubmg is allowed. Thus, during the up stroke of the piston 36, a limited-volume of fluid under pressure is admitted through the tubing to aid in the recovery of the 011 and on the down stroke a substantially greater volurne of pressure fluid enters the column of ascending liquid to provide full compensation for the loss of lifting action incident to the down stroke of the plunger. This arrangement also lightens the column of tubing fluid and thereby prevents the working barrel from becoming gas bound.

In Figure 1, it is illustrated that the discharge ports 30 are spaced from the upper terminal of the working barrel and are successively closed by the plunger during the up stroke thereof so that the ascent of the piston 36 and associated elements is arrested yieldingly. In this mannen bumping and rapid wear on the part of the movable elements is avoided. Of course, the descent of the piston 36 and associated parts is cushioned by the limited cross sectional area of the passage through the plunger 28. The

rod 34 may be of a weight and length suiti able to bring about the desired rate of descent of the plunger 28.

From the foregoing it will be seen that 1 the pressure fluid motor is located contiguous to and is operatively ,connected to the pump so that the necessity of employing sucker rods is avoided. By locating the pressure Huid motor inthe bottom of the well,

a high degree of efficiency is attained, first beca-use the motion transmittinglosses incident to the elasticity of sucker rods is avoided and, Asecond-because the elimination of rods reduces wear on the equipment'such as the tubing.

In the herein disclosed fluid lift, the working parts, including the pressure fluid motor and the pumping unit associated therewith, may be withdrawn along with the inner tubing without disturbing the outer tubing 7. to withdraw those parts subject to wear, it is required merely to withdraw the single member 8 and the parts suspended therefrom.

It is to be understood that'the form of vinvention herewith shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts ma be made as will remain within the spirit o the tor, and a sup invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a fluid lift for wells, a pressure fluid motor having a reciprocating element, a pumping unit at one end of said motor and having a plunger operatively connected to said reciprocating element, there being means cooperating with said pump in the formation of a passage for liquid, said pumping unit being provided With discharge means communicating with said passage and positioned to be closed progressively by said plunger to yieldingly arrest the travel of said reciprocating element in one direction.

Y 2. In a fluid lift for Wells, a motor having a reciprocating element, and a pumping unit at one end' of said motor and having a plunger operatively connected to said reciprocating element, said pumping unit being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced outlets progressively closed by said plunger to form a means by which the movement of the reciprocating element of said motor is arrested yieldingly.

3. In a fluid lift for wells, a motor having a reciprocating element, and a pumping unit at one end of said motor and having a plunger operatively connected to said reciprocating element, said pumping unit bcing provided with a discharge for liquid, and means cooperating with said pumping uni-t and said motor in the formation of a liquid passage communicating with the discharge from said pumping unit, said plunger being 'adapted to progressively close said discharge simultaneously with the approach of the reciprocating element of said motor to the end of travel in one direction to cushion the termination of such travel.

4. In a fluid lift for wells, a motor having a reciprocating element, a pumping unit arranged at one end of said motor and being provided with a working barrel having discharge means at a point spaced from one en d thereof to form a cushioning chamber, said pumping unit being'pr'ovided with a plunger movable in said barrel and with the reciprocating element of said motor, said cushioning chamber being in the line of' travel of said lunger and adapted for the reception of a uid by which the stroke of the plunger and the reciprocating element of said pump in one direction is arrested yieldingly. J

5. In a fluid lift for wells, a pressure fluid motor, a tubing having rigid connection with the motor, a bushing associated with the m0- ort having a seat for engagement by said ushing, a pumping unit suspended from said motor and having operative connection therewith, and pressure fluid conduits extending through said bushing and having communication with said pressure fluid motor.

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6. In a fluid lift for wells, inner and outer tubular members, a pressure fluid motor suspended from said inner tubular member and ein provided with a bushing, the outer tubu ar member being provided with a seat upon which said bushing rests, a umping unit suspended from said pressure uid motor and havingl operative connection therewith, and sealing means carried by the lower portion of said pumping unit and having substantially fluid tight contact with the ower portion of said outer tubing, said pumping unit and said motor being removable freely throulgh said outer tubing.

7. n a pressure fluid motor, a motor having a cylinder and a reciprocating element therein, a pumping unit suspended from :said motor and having a fluid lifting element operatively connected -to the reciprocating element of said motor, 'and a tubular member surrounding said motor and said pumping unit in spaced relation thereto and cooperating therewith in the formation of an annular fluid passage, said pumping unit being provided with a discharge tosaid annular passage, -the upper portion of said tubular member and the adjacent portion of said motor being provided with cooperatingsealing and seating devices constituting a closure for the upper portion of said annular passage.

8. In a fluid lift, inner and outer spaced tubular members cooperating in the formation of an annular passage, a pressure fluid motor having inletY devices communicating with said annular passage, a pumping unit suspended fromsaid motor and s aced inward from said uter tubular mem er to cooperate therewith in the formation of a discharge passage, saidmotor being provided with means establishing communication between said discharge passage and said inner tubin l'.

9. ln a fluid lift, inner and outer tubular members, a bushing having connection with the inner tubular member a pressure fluid motor suspended from said bushing and being provided with a reciprocating element, a pumping unit having connection with said reciprocatin element and being rovided with means y which the stroke o said reciprocating element is cushioned, said outer tubing having a portion thereof extended about said pumping unit in spaced relation thereto to vco'o erate therewith in the formation of a disc arge passage, and being provided with means forming a seat for said bushing.

10. In a fluid pressure motor, inner and outer tubular members, a bushing having connection with the inner tubular member, a pressure fluid motor suspended from said bushing and being provided with a reciproeating element, a pumping unit having connection with said reciprocatin element and being provided with means y which they i strokeof said reciprocatin element is cushioned, said outer tubing vaving a portion thereof extended about said pumping unit in lao l 

